Madison Bikes

Lots of new projects planned and underway. Some are nearly complete. Read on.

TAP Bicycle Projects Prioritized

Kevin Luecke, Madison’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Administrator, presented four TAP(Transportation Alternatives Program) projects for prioritization at the Transportation Commission meeting. TAP projects are 80% funded by the Wisconsin DOT.  The link to the presentation slides that includes a map for each project is here:

The projects will likely be ranked as listed below:

1. Beltline Frontage road path. Seminole Hwy to Landmark Dr. Shared use path construction along a portion of the W Beltline Frontage Road where there is no sidewalk and a substandard bicycle lane for conditions. This project was previously approved, but funding was not available.

2. Garver path extension. Milwaukee St to Marsh View Path. Together with shared use paths to be built by a developer in 2026, this extension would provide a connection through Starkweather Park and to the existing connecting path under WIS 30 to Commercial Ave. There is a potential future connection over Stoughton Road to the Autumn Ridge Path extension. This path would allow residents north of Hwy 30 to connect with paths taking them to Atwood Ave and downtown Madison.

3. Odana Road Side Path. Southwest Path spur to Wedgewood Way.  This project repurposes the parking lane along the Odana Golf Course to connect the SW Path to a new bike boulevard on local streets and a connection to the Beltline path. This project would be of less value if the path along the beltline east of Whitney is built, but the future of that path is uncertain and probably a long way off.

4. Autumn Ridge Path Extension. This path would connect the planned bike route north along Hwy 51 (probably in the distant future) to the new Autumn Ridge path and bridge, and potentially the bridge over Hwy 51 to the Marshview path if it is built.  

These projects will be submitted in late June of 2025. Stay tuned for further developments.

Wilson St. Cyclepath Complete*

The two-way cycle track on Wilson Street is complete (*except for a 0.05 mile construction interruption near Pinkney St.) This project connects important downtown corridors including Broom St. and the Capital CityTrail. Connectivity will be further enhanced when the path on the North side of Northshore Dr. is complete. This project would have looked much different without public input. Thanks to all who provided comments.

Our board member Harald took some video footage: https://youtube.com/shorts/idpjKvixwqI?feature=share (link has been updated)

Bicycle Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary!

Bicycle Film Festival will be returning to Madison on October 2, 2025 for the 25th anniversary of BFF. Ticket sales will go live, but in the meantime, hold yourself over with a virtual BFF Festival:

BFF is celebrating virtually with some of our Greatest Hit films that screened from 2001 until today.

Get a full festival pass to watch all 5 programs:

https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/161654341/bicycle-film-festival-2024-2025-virtual-bff-classics

BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL WORLDWIDE VIRTUAL: BFF CLASSICS featuring 40 past films curated into four short film programs and one filmmaker retrospective program. Join our celebration virtually!

These films from BFF over the years capture the essence of human perseverance, vulnerability, strength, and the pursuit of dreams. The evolution of cycling, as seen through cinema, reflects its broader
cultural significance. From documentaries to narratives and animated stories, cycling culture is shaped by talented filmmakers, each offering a unique perspective on the bicycle’s impact on individual
lives and society as a whole. Every film reveals a different facet of cycling’s rich history, creating an intricate portrait of this beautiful and important global movement.

Program 1 – ADVENTURE SHORTS
Program 2 – URBAN BIKE SHORTS
Program 3 – CINEMATIC SHORTS
Program 4 – ADVENTURE SHORTS II
Program 5 – BRIAN VERNOR RETROSPECTIVE (feature films)

Each program is available to watch worldwide now through July 1, 2025.

 Tickets and Passes:
https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/161654341/bicycle-film-festival-2024-2025-virtual-bff-classics

 Artwork to download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/flr5qzzvc5ztz8zdy31iy/AFYBUhB9d2ov7Yt2Y1j7RIg?rlkey=c471bfljg55jk3uz2dyexaj7o&st=g76tw7kt&dl=0

Stills:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/72eln9xhhfc7fgaju1dwh/APQnhQZWaoTJTR__lxxFj2s?rlkey=ruegoot1hocw6u1ixqtbadl5h&st=h7f7wt7x&dl=0

Vision Zero, Safe Streets and Speed Management

Sometimes it seems that transportation projects come at us fast and furious. That’s a good thing but it can get confusing. The city of Madison has released a nice summary of improvements made to improve safety for all roadway users. This summary includes projects which are underway or recently completed.

Budget Listening Session – Transportation

Pinney Library, June 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

This live meeting will feature an update of the 2026 budget process with Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke and presentations from Metro Transit, the Parking Division, and Traffic Engineering. This is an opportunity to speak directly with City staff about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison’s future. Register to attend the meeting here.

Name the Data Bike

If you haven’t heard, the Greater Madison MPO now has a Data Bike. This e-cargo bike will be used to collect data and images in Greater Madison.  It is equipped with a Hero 13 rear-facing camera to document visual surface conditions; an Insta360 4x camera to capture images for Google Street View; and an iPhone 15 running the SensorLog app to measure surface roughness. Trail surface roughness is measured as the accelerometer’s X, Y, and Z coordinate movements normalized for travel speed. All three devices record geo-located data/photos, enabling them to be mapped and compared easily.

This information will help trail managers and policymakers prioritize maintenance and reconstruction across Dane county. The 360-degree imagery will be available to the public.

Obviously, this bike needs a name and this is your big chance to name it. E-mail your suggestion to mpo@cityofmadison.com.

You know about Bicycle Benefits.  What about Bike Bingo?

Dates of Bike Bingo:   June 1- Sept. 1, 2025

How it works:

1. Pick up a $10 Madison Bike Bingo card at a listed location that comes equipped with a special edition holographic Bicycle Benefits program sticker. Put that sticker on your bike helmet (or give it away if you already have one.) The sticker will give you a discount or reward every day of the year when you ride to participating locations and show it.

2. Ride your bike to the locations on the card, use the Bike Benefits discount by showing it on your helmet. Request a stamp. If a place offers an alcohol-related discount, ask that they extend it to a n/a beverage.

3.If you complete a row, you can roll over to one of the “row prize locations” and redeem a prize.

Complete your full card and receive a $25 gift card and a bonus prize compliments of Bicycle Benefits. 

See the this link for locations which have the Bike Bingo cards available. Email info@bicyclebenefits.org for more details, questions, or to get your Bike Benefits Support stamp and full card prize

Get out and enjoy the balmy weather but keep watching these weekly updates and our community calendar.

Madison Bikes Community Calendar

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

The good news is, Madison Bike Week started yesterday. But there’s more good news: There is almost an entire week of Madison Bike Week left to celebrate.

Weekday morning (and afternoon) rider pit-stops begin in earnest Tuesday, with generous spreads of breakfast, snacks, caffeine and deodorant awaiting hungry, thirsty and … odorant riders around Madison and in Middleton and Fitchburg. Check the calendar. There will be a gathering and refueling spot near you.

Madison’s Southwest Area Plan is the subject of Tuesday and Wednesday opportunities to meet and talk (and snack on the bike path, because that’s how this week works) with members of the city’s Planning Division about streets, bike paths, transit and other aspects of the in-process plan for the area south of the Beltline and west of Fitchburg. Bonus info: Updates on the plan are on the agenda for the Plan Commission meeting tonight (June 2).

The Capital City State Trail is 25 years old, making it exactly 100 years younger than the state park system. Celebrate both milestones with the DNR and Dane County Parks and cupcakes, trivia and prizes from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, on the Capital City State Trail at Lussier Family Heritage Center

Don’t miss the big Madison Bikes Bike Week Party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at Brittingham Park, 829 W. Washington Ave. It’s got it all: grilled food, ice cream, drinks, music, many bike-related organizations offering info and free stuff/services and a crowd of fellow two-wheeled travelers. There are still opportunities to volunteer for the party, too! Please consider picking up a short stint setting up, taking down or working the bingo table while enjoying the fellowship.

There’s so much more! Check out the full Madison Bike Week schedule for meet-ups, rides, infrastructure tours and how-to opportunities that celebrate cycling in and around Madison. Don’t forget to add a 2025 Bike Week T-shirt to your biking wardrobe.

Spieler named transportation director

Madison’s next director of transportation will be Christof Spieler, a Houston-based engineer, author and Rice University lecturer in urban transportation. Over 17 years as a planner with the consulting firm Huitt Zollars, Spieler has tackled projects across the spectrum of urban planning in a long list of American cities — including bus networks in Forth Worth and Boston, an Austin rail station, transit plans for St. Paul, Philadelphia regional commuter rail, highways and parks and mixed-used districts in Houston, Seattle’s plan for transit-oriented development.

“I look forward to bringing the skills and experience I’ve developed to a role where we can make sure cars, pedestrians, bikes, and buses all work together, and to have the opportunity to turn master plans into projects that make peoples’ lives better every day,” says Spieler, who also says he has relied on transit and walking for most of his daily trips in Downtown Houston.

He starts work in Madison on July 21, which is probably just enough time for the Madison Public Library’s copy — it’s on order! — of Spieler’s book, “Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US and Canadian Transit,” to arrive and hit the shelf.

Weigh in on Madison-area mobility planning

Now is your chance to let Spieler’s soon-to-be colleagues at the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization know how you hope to move about Madison and 35 neighboring municipalities. Your input on the MPO’s survey, open through July 1, will help guide their Active Transportation Plan for Dane County, “a blueprint for making it safer, easier and more enjoyable to walk, bike and roll (including using wheelchairs and other mobility devices) throughout the region.”

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

It is Memorial Day, and, unsurprisingly, it’s a light one for city meetings this week. There are no meetings on the calendar with bike-related items.

Instead, this update will get you ready for Madison Bike Week, June 1-8, 2025!

To start, on Saturday, 5/31, we have the DeForest Bike Rodeo, hosted by DeForest Park & Recreation and the Police Department at Firemans Park. Kids will get their helmet fitted, and navigate the bike skills course while fine tuning their safety knowledge with DeForest Police officers. Register in advance.

On Sunday, 6/1, we have the Pride Ride sponsored by the Wisconsin Bike Fed, Madison Bikes, Trek Bicycles, and Active Youth Wisconsin. Meet at McPike Park and decorate your bikes for Pride Month! We recommend biking to the start, as car parking is limited. Check the route and register here.

On Monday, 6/2, please join us for a press conference with Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and representatives from Madison Bikes, the Transportation Dept, and other dignitaries to kick off Madison Bike Week. Celebrate the accomplishments that make the city a great place to ride a bike as well as hear about plans for the future to keep moving forward.
After the press conference, join us for a quick spin around downtown.

On Tuesday, 6/3, come enjoy root beer floats and affogatos to wind down your commute. Curbside Bicycles will also be there for quick ABC bike checks. There may even be a tour of the fire station if the crew is not busy fighting fires!

On Wednesday, 6/4, if you have never learned how to ride a bike, or if you struggle with balance, braking, and confidence- there is a class for you! Taught by accredited instructors, participants are encouraged to come with any or no experience with biking. Participants will learn biking basics including balancing, how to use brakes, pedaling, turning, laws, strategies for navigating, and basic maintenance. Everyone is welcome! This is a non-judgmental class designed for adults. Bring your own bike or register to use a Bike Fed bike. Options are limited and registration is required.

On Thursday, 6/5, Join Machinery Row Bicycles for a Flat Fix Demonstration! Expert mechanics will show you what to do if you get a flat tire at home or on the trail. Learn tips and tricks to help the process go smoothly and get the supplies you need.

And much more… those are just a few highlights to prepare you for Madison Bike Week. Please stay tuned for more events in next week’s highlight. Get ready to explore Madison on two wheels, meet other cycling enthusiasts, and take advantage of the exciting things we have planned for you!

We now have merch! You can find Madison Bike Week shirts and more here on our Webstore.

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

It’s hard to believe we’re running up against Memorial Day 2025, and then Madison Bike Week follows immediately afterwards. We’ve already scheduled almost 60 (yes, six-zero) events at over 40 (yes, four-zero) locations, with more coming in every day. There’s no hard cutoff on event submission, however if you’d like to be blessed/hyped on the socials, you’d be wise to get yours in by this Friday, May 23.

In particular, let’s highlight that on Friday, June 6 @ Brittingham Park, we’re hosting our end-of-week party with all sorts of FREE fun, food, and drinks. This event requires a lot of people-power so if you’re up for taking a volunteer slot, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!

This Week

On Monday at 7pm, join Bike Fitchburg for their monthly meeting a the Fitchburg Senior Center. Shout out to Bike Fitchburg for hosting a bunch of exciting Bike Week events too!

On Tuesday from 9-10am, Global Health Institute at the UW is hosting a free webinar facilitating “the discussion on healthy cities & climate change.” There are some big names on the panel, including Carlos Moreno, the author of “The 15-Minute City.”

On Wednesday from 5:30-7pm, the City of Madison is hosting a “casual” walk & talk through the Hiestand Neighborhood to discuss the Southeast Area Plan. It starts at the Hiestand Park Picnic Shelter and the rain date is May 29, which could be an important detail, given the forecast.

On Wednesday at 5:30pm, join the first in the full-summer series of e-bike group rides from the Capital Brewery Bike Club, leaving from, you guessed it, Capital Brewery in Middleton. There are actually a bunch of different rides for bike riders of every level on different days so check their site out if you like. The brewery is also hosting some fun Bike Week stuff and donating beer for the end of week party. Shout out!

On Saturday from 10am-3pm, support Dream Bikes by shopping their huge parking lot sale. Looks like it’s in front of their store @ 1131 N. Sherman Ave.

Other Stuff

As reported in the MB slack, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin is hiring a new Transportation Policy Analyst. Could be you!

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

With the end of the UW semester, the downtown/campus area is going to be much quieter. This past weekend was a bit crazy, with both graduation and Mother’s Day filling the city with people from out of town and lots of happy families.

We are definitely getting into peak biking season, and the paths have been pretty crowded. Please be courteous on our lovely shared use paths and be patient with those going at a slower pace. There are lots of less-experienced bicyclists, walkers and other non-wheeled people. We also get lots of out-of-towners, who may be moving more slowly or in less predictable ways. Let’s make them feel welcome, safe, and happy. More people on bikes is good for everyone.

If you are in a hurry or want to go at top speed, the paths through the Isthmus or campus, along Lake Monona, or SW from Camp Randall may not be the best place to ride. Streets allow faster speeds, and you’re less likely to scare a family walking or a visitor checking out the scenery. 

Madison Bike Week events calendar is live!

The calendar of events for Bike Week, June 1-8, is live! A reminder that you can already submit any events your organization, business, club, or neighborhood may have planned. Just fill out the submission form on the Madison Bike Week page. 

2025 Madison-area construction map  

Spring also brings road construction, and that can mean bad biking or detours. Madison does a pretty good job with keeping routes open, but not all parts of the county are as diligent. 

Madison Bikes board member Craig Weinhold has created a Google community map with ongoing construction projects, detours, and closed path segments throughout the greater Madison area, but we need your help with keep it up to date. The map covers more than the city of Madison, so if you are out on a ride and notice a closed road, unannounced construction, or even trees down or chip sealing, please add it to the map. 

Craig says, “So far I’ve added construction announcements from State, Dane County, Madison, UW, DeForest, Windsor, Verona, Monona, Waunakee, Marshall, and Stoughton.  If others can help canvas other areas, that’d be great. Look for a road construction page. The towns are the least organized; they often have no announcement of their chip-seal plans.”

Madison Area MPO wants your opinion on walking and biking

The Metropolitan Planning Organization has a survey out about how you feel walking and biking. It covers the whole MPO area, which includes most of the suburbs of Dane County. Please take a moment to weigh in, especially if you live/work/visit area outside of Madison. There is also an interactive map to highlight areas of concern or needing improvements. The results of the survey will be shared with surrounding communities.

New alder talks bicycling

New Alder Davy Mayer shared a blog post this past week titled, “I Love Bikes and Especially Bike Infrastructure,” including how he helped solve a bicycle-parking problem for a bar in his district by getting a couple of racks installed by the city.

Volunteer opportunity for Run Madison 

Run Madtown is an endurance event coming up on May 24th (5K) and May 25th (10K & half-marathon) in Madison. It is also a fundraiser for various non-profits in the city. They are looking for bike marshals to take the lead on the course on Saturday, May 24th, 6:45-8:30 pm, and Sunday, May 25th, 6:30-11:00 am. If you are interested in volunteering, let them know that Madison Bikes sent you when you fill out the volunteer form.

The week ahead

It’s a pretty quiet week for meetings. The Transportation Commission is meeting, but there really is nothing to note on the agenda. (As a member of that committee, I’m happy for small miracles after a couple of long ones.)

Tuesday and Thursday

There will be two in-person meetings about the North-South BRT line plans. These two meetings focus on South Park St and Fitchburg, but you can provide input on the entire route, if you missed previous meetings. Since the BRT will affect bicycle facilities in the area — both positively and negatively — bicyclists may want to weigh in on these plans.

Tuesday, May 13, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, Madison Labor Temple, 1602 Park St. Rm 201B
Thursday, May 15, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, Fitchburg City Hall, 5520 Lacy Rd, Council Chambers

Wednesday

Madison Queer Bike Ride meets for its monthly ride in Law Park near Machinery Row at 6:00 pm. All bodies are welcome, and the ride will be at a party pace. Follow them on Instagram for more details.

Friday

Friday, May 16 is National Bike to Work Day. Here in Wisconsin, we don’t follow the national calendar for a couple of reasons –  it’s often still chilly in Wisconsin in May, so we prefer to celebrate bicycling in early June, and we want a whole week to celebrate all types of bicycling – but there are a couple of events this Friday to celebrate the national day.

Coffee and donuts at 8-10 am at Machinery Row commuter station

Machinery Row, Madison Bikes, and the City of Madison are hosting this event on the Capital City bike path at the corner of John Nolen Dr. and Williamson St. Stop over on your morning bike commute for a quick bite!

Ride with the Fitchburg Mayor

Celebrate Bike to Work Day with the City of Fitchburg with a bike ride to work with the Mayor! The event will start with assembly at 7:00 a.m. at the McKee Farms Park BCycle station (near the main shelter), and will include a 1-mile ride to City Hall at 7:15 a.m. and brief remarks, including award presentations to Fitchburg’s newest Bicycle Friendly Businesses, at City Hall about 7:30 a.m.

Sunday

Freewheel volunteer/board meeting will happen at 11:00am – 12:00pm at Neighborhood House Community Center, 29 S Mills St. Join in person or on Zoom to get involved with Freewheel planning. New volunteers warmly welcomed!

Then at noon, join Freewheel for Open Shop @ Neighborhood House. Bring your bike or work on donated bikes at Freewheel’s Open Shop. Experienced instructors are here to help. All skill levels welcome from beginner to pro. Everyone’s a learner, everyone’s a teacher.

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!

Let’s start with Madison Bike Week: We’re less than one month out. You may have seen a Bike Week ad on a Metro bus, or maybe you spotted one of our posters at a local business.

Event submission have been rolling in at a steady pace, and if I’m counting right, we’re at 21 events already. What are they? Well, you need to be a little patient still. We’ll reveal the initial schedule next Monday! In the meantime: Consider whether you want to organize an event yourself, or talk a friend, your employer, club, or anyone else into it. It’s free, it’s fun, and it builds community. Check our our FAQ or go straight to the registration form. Oh, and remember that we also offer small grants to Madison Bike Week event organizers!

Bikes for Kids sale

Our friends at Bikes for Kids Wisconsin are holding their Everything Bikes Annual Sale at their location on Coyier Lane on Saturday:

It’s the largest used bike sale in the city! Head to Bikes for Kids Wisconsin on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 between 10am and 2pm to view hundreds of bikes at the lowest prices around.

We’ll have something for everyone! Accessories include bike trailers, tagalongs, car racks, bike trainers, a wide array of parts, bags, mirrors, clothes, baskets, and more. We’ll also have vintage bikes, high-end road bikes, e-bikes new and used, folding bikes, and tandems for sale. Prices will be marked and some items will be make an offer. Cash and Card Sales supported.

All purchases support our mission of making bicycle transportation accessible for all!

Climate grant for Vel Phillips Memorial High School Bike Club

The City of Madison announced its latest Youth Action Climate Fund awards recently. Among the 17 funded project is a $5000 grant for the Memorial High School Bike Club.

The grant […] will help to fund essential tools, bike racks and storage equipment, while also supporting an upcoming field trip to Trek Bicycle’s global headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. […]

“This grant really helps us make biking more accessible for students,” said Grace Riedle-Joranlien, Memorial art teacher and Bike Club advisor. “We want to create a culture where students feel empowered to ride to school and take care of their own bikes—where a flat tire or a broken chain isn’t a barrier.”

The club’s origin story is rooted in community partnerships and a strong student interest in biking. The Wisconsin Bike Fed, a nonprofit focused on increasing bike ridership across the state, approached the school last spring to gauge interest in launching a student-led club focused on bike mechanics, commuting and sustainability. Thanks in large part to the organization’s support, the club now meets weekly during lunch, offering students the chance to repair and refurbish unused bikes for school and community use.

Congrats to the students! Read the full news release here.

Construction starting on North Shore Drive Path

This week marks the launch of construction of the first segment of a new multi-use path along the south north side of North Shore Drive. This will create a new connection from the SW Commuter Path to S Bedford St. And in a future phase, to done together with the John Nolen Drive reconstruction, the path will connect all the way to John Nolen Drive and to Bassett Street.

On the east side, two other bicycle improvement projects will start construction as well. See all the details here.

As always, you can find an overview of all bike events on our Community Bike Calendar. Email us at info@madisonbikes.org to add your events. And if you value our newsletter and other work, consider donating to Madison Bikes. For construction updates, check out the city’s Bike Madison page.

Thanks to our sponsors who make our events possible!